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U.S. Department of Energy
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Microstructural analysis of SYNROC waste forms from basaltic melts

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6726156

The fabrication of titanate/zirconate-based nuclear waste forms (SYNROC) generally requires careful blending of finely divided powders or calcines followed by an extremely sensitive hot pressing step. A simple process has been developed by which titanate/zirconate-based nuclear waste forms are synthesized from basaltic melts. The synthesized waste forms have been examined by x-ray diffraction (XRD), standard metallography, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The following phases were identified by SEM and XRD: pseudobrookite (Fe/sub 2/TiO/sub 5/), zirconolite (CaZrTi/sub 2/O/sub 7/), chevkinite ((Ca,Ce)/sub 4/(Fe,Mg)/sub 2/Ti/sub 3/Si/sub 4/O/sub 22/), and perovskite (CaTiO/sub 3/). Uranium, gadolinium, and cerium (fission products) ions were selectively partitioned into the crystalline zirconolite, chevkinite, and perovskite phases.

Research Organization:
EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-76ID01570
OSTI ID:
6726156
Report Number(s):
EGG-M-07182; CONF-820724-6; ON: DE83000538
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English